Swiss Court Declares $110,000 Tailgating Fine Reasonable for Millionaires | Carscoops

      The driver sought to contest the fine, but a judge ruled in favor of the local police.

      6 hours ago

      by Brad Anderson

      The penalty was determined based on the driver's annual taxable income exceeding $1.7 million.

      Switzerland is among several countries that calculate traffic penalties according to income levels.

      In 2023, a Finnish driver was fined more than $127,000 for speeding at 51 mph in a 31 mph zone.

      Traffic laws in Switzerland are not to be taken lightly unless one has a strong tolerance for financial repercussions. The nation is notorious for its rigorous enforcement and high fines, transforming minor infractions into significant financial burdens.

      Recently, a local millionaire was penalized nearly $110,000 for tailgating on a highway, a fine he later challenged in court. This amount is no error; in many regions, it represents a substantial annual income, but in Switzerland, it's simply the cost of wealth and following too closely.

      Read: Why A Finnish Driver Was Fined $130,000 After Being Caught Speeding 20 MPH Over the Limit

      Although authorities have not made public any footage or images of the driver tailgating, he was taken to court and given a 50-day fine of 1,970 francs per day (approximately $2,200 at current exchange rates). This resulted in a total of 98,500 Swiss francs, equivalent to about $109,500. The staggering amount is due to the fine being calculated on his annual taxable income of 1.6 million francs (around $1.8 million).

      When Your Salary Influences Your Ticket Amount

      In Switzerland and a few other European countries, traffic fines are not uniform. Instead, they depend on the income of the driver, a method intended to ensure fines are genuinely impactful, regardless of whether one is living hand-to-mouth or enjoying luxury in a penthouse. A $300 fine might devastate the budget of someone earning minimum wage, but for a millionaire, it's merely a minor inconvenience.

      In addition to the substantial fine, the Swiss court mandated the driver to pay 13,000 francs (~$14,500) in court fees, as reported by 20Min. The driver challenged the outcome after the initial decision last year, but the court dismissed his appeal upon reviewing police-provided photos that showed him tailgating. There is a slight positive note—he won’t have to pay the $110,000 unless he commits another violation within the next two years.

      Switzerland’s History of Significant Traffic Fines

      Switzerland has a history of striking traffic fines. In 2010, a Swiss man received an astonishing $290,000 speeding ticket for exceeding the limits in his Ferrari. More recently, in 2023, a Finnish driver was fined a remarkable €121,000 (~$127,000) for driving at 51 mph (82 km/h) in a 31 mph (50 km/h) zone.

      What are your thoughts on Switzerland's income-based fine system? Is it an equitable method to ensure penalties effectively deter poor driving, or does it disproportionately affect the wealthy? Would you support implementing it in your country? Share your opinions in the comments.